unemploymentNPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94NPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94unemploymentSun, 23 Oct 2016 04:50:35 +0000unemploymenthttp://wesa.fm
Associated PressPennsylvania's unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.7 percent in September. The state Labor and Industry Department said Friday that total nonfarm jobs declined 5,300 for the month. The agency says jobs were down in seven of 11 categories. The education and health services sector, and the government sector, each lost 6,400. But state officials say two sectors reached record high employment levels — professional and business services with a gain of 6,700 jobs, and leisure and hospitality with 4,800. Pennsylvania Jobless Rate Stays At 5.7 Percent In Septemberhttp://wesa.fm/post/pennsylvania-jobless-rate-stays-57-percent-september
72602 as http://wesa.fmSat, 22 Oct 2016 05:21:00 +0000Pennsylvania Jobless Rate Stays At 5.7 Percent In SeptemberCamila DomonoskeThe U.S. added 151,000 new jobs in August and the unemployment rate held steady at 4.9 percent, according to the monthly jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.Both those metrics fell short of expectations: Economists were expecting about 180,000 new jobs, and a slight dip in the unemployment rate, to 4.8 percent, NPR's Yuki Noguchi has reported.But even if the numbers were somewhat disappointing, the economy has still recorded 78 straight months of job growth, NPR's Marilyn Geewax notes.Job growth for the past few months was also revised — June numbers went down, to 271,000 from 292,000, and July went up, to 275,000 from 255,000 (which was already stronger than expected). The net change was a slight drop, with about 1,000 fewer jobs added in the past two months than the BLS had originally believed.Average hourly earnings rose by 3 cents, to $25.73. The percentage of involuntary part-time workers, as well as the labor force participation rate and the number of long-termU.S. Added 151,000 New Jobs In August; Unemployment Rate Steadyhttp://wesa.fm/post/us-added-151000-new-jobs-august-unemployment-rate-steady
70519 as http://wesa.fmFri, 02 Sep 2016 13:02:00 +0000U.S. Added 151,000 New Jobs In August; Unemployment Rate SteadySean Ray Since the 2008 economic recession, the national unemployment rate has been closely monitored. In elections year, politicians use the statistics to promote their own economic agendas. Robert Morris University professor of economics Brian O’Roark says to fully understand what the rate means for the U.S. labor force, it’s important to examine all elements involved. When It Comes To Unemployment Numbers, Multiple Factors Are Includedhttp://wesa.fm/post/when-it-comes-unemployment-numbers-multiple-factors-are-included
64258 as http://wesa.fmTue, 19 Apr 2016 20:01:12 +0000When It Comes To Unemployment Numbers, Multiple Factors Are IncludedErika BerasPennsylvania’s unemployment rate was 5.3 percent in September, down a tenth of a percentage point from August, according to numbers released Friday by the U.S. Department of Labor and Industry. The state tracked two-tenths of a percentage point above the U.S. rate of 5.1 percent, unchanged since August. Dillon Moore, data and performance manager at Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board, said those numbers are on par with the growth they expect to see locally as jobs in health care, the arts and entertainment industries continue to climb. The board is still waiting for last month's report, Moore said. Moore remains pragmatic about the low unemployment rate, both in Pittsburgh and across the nation. “The long-term unemployed are potentially leaving the labor force and stopping looking for work,” he said. State Unemployment Remains Just Above National Averagehttp://wesa.fm/post/state-unemployment-remains-just-above-national-average
55542 as http://wesa.fmFri, 16 Oct 2015 21:14:02 +0000State Unemployment Remains Just Above National AverageDeanna GarciaThe longer you are unemployed, the harder it is to find a job, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board announced Thursday a program geared specifically to the long-term unemployed will soon be available in Pittsburgh. The Platform to Employment (P2E) program is more specialized in that it focuses solely on people who have been unemployed for at least 27 weeks. “The needs that you have in order to get yourself back into the workforce are very different,” said Joe Carbone, president and CEO of The Workplace, which first launched P2E. “We think we assembled the right tools that are necessary so that folks who are long-term unemployed, many of which who have given up any future in terms of being a part of the workforce, can actually overcome that and come back in and be productive employees.”Putting Long-Term Unemployed Back to Work in Pittsburgh http://wesa.fm/post/putting-long-term-unemployed-back-work-pittsburgh
54828 as http://wesa.fmThu, 01 Oct 2015 18:57:40 +0000Putting Long-Term Unemployed Back to Work in Pittsburgh Kevin GavinFor a fourth straight month, Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate remained at 5.4 percent in August, the same as one year ago. During that same 12-month period, the U.S. rate dropped a full percentage point to the current 5.1 percent. PA Jobless Rate Holds Steady, Remains Above U.S. Ratehttp://wesa.fm/post/pa-jobless-rate-holds-steady-remains-above-us-rate
54168 as http://wesa.fmWed, 23 Sep 2015 16:48:35 +0000PA Jobless Rate Holds Steady, Remains Above U.S. RateMike RichardsA 2012 Pennsylvanian law aimed at making the Unemployment Compensation Fund more solvent inadvertently took its toll on seasonal workers. The Senate Labor and Industry Committee is holding hearings to determine how to fix this law. Three years ago, the General Assembly took action to reduce a $4 billion debt to the federal government.Why Seasonal Workers In PA Are Denied Jobless Benefitshttp://wesa.fm/post/why-seasonal-workers-pa-are-denied-jobless-benefits
52100 as http://wesa.fmMon, 10 Aug 2015 09:00:00 +0000Why Seasonal Workers In PA Are Denied Jobless BenefitsErika BerasLocal leaders announced $1.1 million in STEM funding for paid internships benefiting low-income, at-risk youth at a meeting Downtown on Thursday. The 3 Rivers Workforce Investment Board will manage the pilot in partnership with city and county officials through the Learn and Earn program set up earlier this year. Kathy Manderino, secretary of the state Department of Labor and Industry, outlined the program thus far. Designed to place young people into 2,000 career-prepping jobs, it has attracted far more applicants than open positions, Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said. The program will give invaluable experience to otherwise idle, summertime youth, Fitzgerald said. Mayor Bill Peduto said that professional leg-up should help when they start looking for full-time employment. “We’re going to take local kids and give them the opportunity to be a part of it and to take a step further than kids from around the country by giving them real job experience into what is growing$1.1 Million Announced For Teen Summer STEM Jobshttp://wesa.fm/post/11-million-announced-teen-summer-stem-jobs
49674 as http://wesa.fmThu, 18 Jun 2015 21:46:15 +0000$1.1 Million Announced For Teen Summer STEM JobsEssential Pittsburgh Earlier this month the unemployment numbers were announced. Over two-hundred thousand jobs were added to the economy. While this is good news why do so many people feel we’re still in the recession? Robert Morris University Economics Professor Brian O’Roark explains how unemployment is assessed and who counts as “unemployed.” Unemployment assessments are done by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. O’Roark says that the official ranks of the unemployed do not simply include people who don’t have jobs. What Do Unemployment Numbers Really Mean?http://wesa.fm/post/what-do-unemployment-numbers-really-mean
43596 as http://wesa.fmTue, 17 Feb 2015 23:00:26 +0000What Do Unemployment Numbers Really Mean?Kevin GavinThe unemployment rate in the seven-county Pittsburgh labor market dipped to 4.8 percent in November. “The last time the rate was this low was in April 2008 when the rate was also at 4.8 percent,” said Ashley Yanchunas, business and industry analyst with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry. The number of area residents with jobs rose by 4,700 and the number of those out of work fell by 2,700 last month. “Some people like to psychologically think of it as what ever the unemployment level decreases by, they assume those people are entering the employment side,” Yanchunas said. “It’s not necessarily the same exact people, but in this case you do see an unemployment drop, an employment increase and a labor force increase which is a great sign for the area.” The labor force — the number of people employed plus those seeking work — rose by 2,000 in November. The largest growth came in the retail sector which added 4,400 jobs last month. “Any more you see a lot of increase inPittsburgh Jobless Rate Dips to Lowest Point in More Than 6 Yearshttp://wesa.fm/post/pittsburgh-jobless-rate-dips-lowest-point-more-6-years
41092 as http://wesa.fmTue, 30 Dec 2014 17:19:02 +0000Pittsburgh Jobless Rate Dips to Lowest Point in More Than 6 YearsEssential Pittsburgh Pittsburgh continues to have lower levels of unemployment than most similarly sized cities such as: Indianapolis, Kansas City and Cleveland. The Steel City weathered the economic crisis of 2008 better than just about any of these cities and its low unemployment and housing prices have drawn residents back to the area. But will this trend continue? Mark Price, a labor economist with the left-leaning Keystone Research Center in Harrisburg, discusses Pittsburgh’s prospects going forward. In particular, he explains that economic recovery has not yet affected those in blue collar jobs. “Two sectors that are going to be important for Pittsburgh, two sectors that have not performed well at all for obvious reasons would be manufacturing and construction… that reflects the deepness and the nature of the recession.” Overall, however, Price does feel good about the economy going forward. Pittsburgh Maintains Low Unemployment, But Blue Collar Jobs Still Strugglehttp://wesa.fm/post/pittsburgh-maintains-low-unemployment-blue-collar-jobs-still-struggle
40461 as http://wesa.fmWed, 17 Dec 2014 00:29:11 +0000Pittsburgh Maintains Low Unemployment, But Blue Collar Jobs Still StruggleMark NootbaarMore people were working in Pennsylvania in October than had been since August of 2008. The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry released its seasonally adjusted employment situation report for October 2014 on Friday, pegging total nonfarm jobs in the commonwealth at 5,802,300. That is up 12,600 jobs since September. “We had a tremendous amount of growth,” said Sara Goulet, state Department of Labor and Industry spokeswoman. The state’s unemployment rate declined by three-tenths of a percentage point from September to 5.4 percent. That number is below the national 5.8 percent rate and lower than it has been in Pennsylvania for six years. Year-over year, the unemployment rate was down by 1.7 percent. Pennsylvania’s civilian labor force increased by 15,000 individuals in October. Resident employment was up 32,000 while unemployment was down 15,000. The department reports jobs in trade, transportation and utilities lead the way with an increase of 5,500 jobs while governmentPennsylvania Unemployment Dips in Octoberhttp://wesa.fm/post/pennsylvania-unemployment-dips-october
39188 as http://wesa.fmFri, 21 Nov 2014 16:00:47 +0000Pennsylvania Unemployment Dips in OctoberJessica NathPennsylvania is home to nearly one million veterans, but that only tells half the story. 1,500 of them are homeless, which is a 46.2 percent increase since 2009. About 2,400 Pennsylvania vets claimed Unemployment Compensation benefits last November according to the Center for Workforce Information & Analysis. With these numbers in mind, Senator Rob Teplitz (D – Dauphin) said state legislators need to keep veterans in their thoughts every day of the year and not just on November 11th. “We ask a lot of veterans and their families, and when they come back after their service they may have problems with jobs or education or homelessness, addiction or PTSD,” Teplitz said. “So we need to address those as a state.” Unemployment rates and homelessness are higher with veterans than with the population as a whole, and Teplitz said the state needs to address issues facing vets such as education, job training and healthcare. Teplitz co-sponsored a bill which grants veterans and families ofPA Senator Calls on PA to Think of Veterans Every Day, Not Just Todayhttp://wesa.fm/post/pa-senator-calls-pa-think-veterans-every-day-not-just-today
38641 as http://wesa.fmTue, 11 Nov 2014 16:45:37 +0000PA Senator Calls on PA to Think of Veterans Every Day, Not Just TodayJulian RouthWhile the rate of job growth in Pennsylvania sits dead last among states in the U.S., the numbers in Pittsburgh are a bit more optimistic, according to recent studies by the Keystone Research Center and PittsburghTODAY. The Greater Pittsburgh area added 7,500 jobs from September 2013 to September 2014, a 0.6 percent increase. Pennsylvania, ranked 50th for job growth since January 2011, lost 9,600 jobs in September alone. The trends in Pittsburgh have been ahead of the state for a couple of years now, according to Executive Director Stephen Herzenberg of the left-leaning Keystone Research Center. “Some of it could be the innovation economy in Pittsburgh,” Herzenberg said. “Some people talk about ‘Eds and Meds,’ but also the startups in Pittsburgh spinning out of Carnegie Mellon University. There are more young people staying in Pittsburgh after they get out of college.” Though the rate of job growth in Pittsburgh is encouraging in comparison to the state, it is low compared to the 14Job Market in Pittsburgh Slowly Improves While State Faltershttp://wesa.fm/post/job-market-pittsburgh-slowly-improves-while-state-falters
37665 as http://wesa.fmThu, 23 Oct 2014 17:19:06 +0000Job Market in Pittsburgh Slowly Improves While State FaltersDeanna Garcia Pennsylvania's jobless rate is up slightly but remains better than the national figure. The state Department of Labor and Industry said Friday the seasonally adjusted rate last month was 5.7 percent, up one tenth of a percentage point from June. “There’s nothing to be alarmed about,” said Sara Goulet, a department spokeswoman. “It’s a very, very small uptick and we do see those periodically. It’s the natural ebb and flow of the employment situation.” The U.S. rate is currently 6.2 percent. “Jobs, although they were down ever so slightly in July, they are up over 50,000 over the year and that’s total jobs – so that’s all good news, we continue to recover from the great recession.” One year ago, the statewide unemployment rate was 7.5 percent. The civilian labor force fell by 32,000, and unemployment rose by 4,000, the first increase in nearly two years. The agency says private industry lost 3,400 jobs, but hiring in the public sector rose for the sixth straight month. The biggest jobPennsylania Unemployment Rate Up Slightly for Julyhttp://wesa.fm/post/pennsylania-unemployment-rate-slightly-july
34362 as http://wesa.fmFri, 15 Aug 2014 20:13:11 +0000Pennsylania Unemployment Rate Up Slightly for JulyDeanna GarciaAfter seeing no appreciable job growth in the Pittsburgh metro area more than a year ago, the region added 10,700 jobs between June 2013 and June 2014, according to a report from Pittsburgh Today. “That’s a 0.9 percent increase, which doesn’t set the world on fire, but Pittsburgh has always been kind of a slow and steady grower,” said Doug Heuck, Pittsburgh Today director. “But it’s good news that we’re back growing jobs again.” The lack of job growth in 2013 had some concerned, as the region had been doing well following the recession, though as stated above, the growth has always been slow and steady. “And that’s kind of our track record,” said Heuck. “Pittsburgh, because of our demographics, is not likely to be a place where there’s torrid job growth, but it is a place where it is relatively more stable in down times and in up times, it just doesn’t see the job growth that some of the hotter cities see.” According to the report, jobs in transportation and utilities increasedReport: Pittsburgh Region Saw Job Growth Last Year, But Manufacturing Still a Concernhttp://wesa.fm/post/report-pittsburgh-region-saw-job-growth-last-year-manufacturing-still-concern
32849 as http://wesa.fmMon, 21 Jul 2014 07:30:00 +0000Report: Pittsburgh Region Saw Job Growth Last Year, But Manufacturing Still a ConcernKevin GavinPennsylvania ranks 42nd among all states in job growth over the last 12 months according to the left-leaning Keystone Research Center. However, Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate for May was 5.6 percent,which was below the national rate of 6.3 percent, and better than 30 other states. Stephen Herzenberg, the center’s executive director, said job growth in the commonwealth has been poor the last few years, but he acknowledged that the private sector created 15,600 jobs in the first four months of this year. “We’re probably going to do better than last year in 2014, but the overall job growth is still sluggish, and the declines of public sector employment continuing to be a drag on private sector job growth and the overall recovery that remains a theme,” said Herzenberg. According to Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, more than 10,000 public sector jobs—education and government—have been trimmed over the last 12 months. Herzenberg attributes some of that “sluggishness” to stateStudy: PA Job Growth Still 'Sluggish'http://wesa.fm/post/study-pa-job-growth-still-sluggish
31224 as http://wesa.fmMon, 23 Jun 2014 12:52:03 +0000Study: PA Job Growth Still 'Sluggish'Kaye BurnetAccording to the U.S. Department of Labor, the unemployment rate for persons ages 55 and older has increased steeply since the 2008-09 recession. Many were laid off in favor of younger employees, who are more familiar with new technology, leaving older workers with obstacles to support themselves and their families. The Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh is working to improve the lot of older, lower-income job seekers with the Mature Workers Program, which gives eligible workers on-the-job training for up to four years at local non-profits. Michelle Thompson, a job development counselor for the program, says the National Urban League has ranked Pittsburgh’s program first in the country for three of the six years the initiative has existed. “We’ve been very successful,” said Thompson. “This past year, we have had 49 placements, and those placements are in a variety of entry-level positions: clerical positions, maintenance positions, food-service positions.” There are currently 98Older Unemployed Get New Opportunitieshttp://wesa.fm/post/older-unemployed-get-new-opportunities
30449 as http://wesa.fmMon, 09 Jun 2014 12:00:00 +0000Older Unemployed Get New OpportunitiesThe Associated PressPennsylvania's unemployment rate continued its rapid drop in February, while employer payrolls inched up and the labor force grew after a 14-month skid.The state Department of Labor and Industry said Friday that Pennsylvania's unemployment rate fell two-tenths of a percentage point to 6.2 percent last month. It was last at that mark in 2008. The national rate was 6.7 percent in February.Pennsylvania's labor force, or the number of people working or searching for work, rose in February by 15,000, the first increase since November 2012. Employment rose by 28,000 and unemployment fell by 15,000.In a separate survey of employers, the department estimated that payrolls rose by 8,700. That number is still below the total jobs Pennsylvania had two years before its 2008 peak. PA Unemployment Down, Employment Up In February http://wesa.fm/post/pa-unemployment-down-employment-february
26251 as http://wesa.fmFri, 21 Mar 2014 15:30:52 +0000PA Unemployment Down, Employment Up In February Essential PittsburghSenate negotiators have struck a bipartisan deal that could renew federal unemployment benefits for the long-term jobless. But the question becomes, what will happen when this legislation makes its way to the House? US Congressman Mike Doyle has been in the House of Representatives since 1995, he's witnessed the emergence of an increasingly partisan congress and explained why he's hopeful for this legislation. “I’m cautiously optimistic for two reasons. Number one, the bill has a pay for. Speaker Boehner has always said that he would not put a bill on the floor unless it was paid for. The second part that gives me some degree of optimism is that the pay for, for this bill, isn’t something that is a poison pill. A lot of times we’ll get a bill that maybe people want to vote for but then they say, ‘Well the way you pay for this is by eliminating the individual mandate on the healthcare bill.’ Something that no Democrat will vote for. The good news is the pay for on this deals withCongressman Doyle is Optimistic About Renewal of Unemployment Benefitshttp://wesa.fm/post/congressman-doyle-optimistic-about-renewal-unemployment-benefits
25983 as http://wesa.fmMon, 17 Mar 2014 21:19:17 +0000Congressman Doyle is Optimistic About Renewal of Unemployment Benefits